Townsman, 1991-11, Page 41Harriston
author solves
mystery genre
Watts, Leslie. The Chocolate Box.
General Paperbacks, Toronto. 251 pp.
ISBN 0-7736-7303-2.
REVIEWED BY
JERRY McDONNELL
Stanley Ellin once said that the
proper, in fact, the only way, to write
a mystery story was to plan the last
few lines or the ending first. It is most
important in this type of story that one
work always toward the ending as this
is the most vital element in making
the story work. The reader is constant-
ly trying to outwit the author and find
the answer before it is intended. At
the same time the author is giving us
clues to the answer but also creating
enough different leads and red her-
rings to baffle our powers of deduc-
tion.
Harriston author Leslie Watts has
created in Edna Heathcott an amateur
detective who has a personal stake in
solving the murder as she knew the
victim and discovered the body when
sent by her boss to tell the landlord
that the rent was going to be late
again. Her boss, Gerald disappears as
his art gallery goes into bankruptcy
and Edna is out of a job.
Art is one of the themes which runs
through the story and is a key to the
identity of the killer. Edna has an art
education, works in the gallery busi-
ness, knows a good deal about the
Canadian art scene and knows where
to find in-depth information about art.
All of these will be important in solv-
ing the case and in dealing with
Detective Stephen Owl who would
very much like the investigation left
to the professionals. The tension
between the two helps to drive the
story forward as do the reactions of
various suspects to Edna's investiga-
tion.
Owl is an interesting character and
is not always what he seems as he
goes about coaxing and intimidating
Edna into telling him what she knows
while he tries to thwart her investiga-
tion. Only toward the end do we come
to realize his hidden side and its value
to our lay detective as well as the
extent to which he has invaded her
privacy. We are almost ready to
excuse his paternalism because it
leads him to protect Edna even though
she does not want this consideration.
Edna's rapidly blossoming relation-
ship with Michael Cipollong is both
an interesting diversion from the mys-
tery and a complicating factor in the
solution. As a landscape designer his
connection to the art world is tenuous
but, ultimately, important and it is cer-
tainly involved in the wrap up of the
story which was a complete surprise.
Equally as interesting is the humorous
element in this passionate relationship
which somehow gives Edna a much
more human and interesting side.
Michael is engaging and we like him
as much as the object of this affection.
When asked why she is so keen to
solve the murder before the police
Edna replies that this is the most
exciting thing that has ever happened
in her life. She has had a small-town
upbringing, marriage and divorce and
has moved to Toronto where she leads
a very ordered existence until the
murder which changes all of her plans
and goals. Life is no longer pre-
dictable, safe or boring. Her style of
investigation is direct, dangerous and
produces a lot of information some of
which is useful and interesting and
some of which is irrelevant and mis-
leading as one would expect. Why do
the police admit to knowing about
Zylie Wedge's crime but refuse to do
anything about it at present, for
instance?
In the long run, why would one
want to read this novel by an author
who lives in Harriston other than the
local interest connection? Enda is a
fresh new character in the mystery
business. She brings small town atti-
tudes and methods to investigation
while trying to be totally self-suffi-
cient. She is not in awe of the police
or other authority figures but is quite
ready to try using them for her own
purposes. She has specialized knowl-
edge which she is able to apply to the
problem at hand and, finally, she has a
really puckish sense of humour. As
well, the author seems to have had
Ellin's dictum about working from the
ending in mind at all times.
The book is recommended as a good
read especially for fans of the mystery
genre. There is, however, enough
other interest to be able to suggest it
to other readers as well. Get hold of
this book and try to identify the mur-
derer before the last few pages. You
will enjoy the style and the story
while sitting before the fire and listen-
ing to music.
Jerry McDonnell is a high school
librarian and avid reader who has
reviewed books for several publica-
tions across Ontario.
journey Back, to
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TOWNSMAN/NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1991 39